Mowing-machine



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

C. C. BRADLEY.

MOWING MAGHINE. No. 329,709. Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

N. Prrz'ns, Pham-maqma, wnhingfm nc (No Model.) i 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. C. C. BRADLEY.

MOWING MACHINE. No. 329,709. Patented Nov. 3, 1885.

n. Pains. www wmmgm. o. c.

(No Model.) s sheets-sheet 3. C. C. BRADLEY.

MOWING MACHINE. No. 329,709. Patented Nov. 8, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER o. BEADLEE'OE sYEAoUsE, NEW YOEK.

MOWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.329,709, dated November 3, 1885.

Application filed April 1, 1881i. `Serial No. 126,313. (No model.)

To all whom may concern:

Beit known that I, CHRISTOPHER C. BRAD- LEY, of the city of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have in vented new and useful Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to an improved construction of the parts whereby the shoe at the inner end of the cutter mechanism is adjustably connected with the main frame; and it has the object to construct these parts in a simple, strong, and durable manner, and so that the parts can be easily adjusted, at the same time protecting the connecting-rod of the cutter mechanism against stones and other obstacles which may be in the way and relieving the shoe from a large portion of the weight, thereby rendering the movements of the machine easy.

. My invention consists, to these ends, of the improvements which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure l is a top plan view of a mowing-machine provided with my improvement-s. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional front elevation ofthe machine. Fig. 3 is a sectional side elevation of the machine. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the ball-and-socket joint at the front of the main frame, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the spherical knuckle of the connecting-bar. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the spring by which the shoe is supported. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified construction of my improvement.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the main frame, c the axle supported therein, and A the wheels mounted on the axle.

B is the tongue, rigidly secured to a plate or socket, b, extending forwardly from the main frame A.

C represents the casing which is attached to the main fra1ne,and which incloses the gearwheels, whereby motion is imparted from the axle a to the longitudinal driving-shaft c in a well-known manner. The driving-shaft c is supported in a forwardly-extending bearing,

c', which is formed on the main frame A and connected with the front end of the plate b by a curved bar, b.

D represents the crank wheel, which is mounted on the front end of the driving-shaft c, and d is the connecting rod or pitman, which extends from the crank-pin d of the rwheel D to the cutter-bar d2.

E represents the shoe, which supports the inner end ofthe cutter mechanism.

F represents the front portion of the main frame, which extends forwardly beyond the crankwheel D and connecting-rod d; and G is a connecting-bar which extends from the front portion, F, of the main frame A to the shoe E, to which it is pivoted at e in advance of the cutter-bar d2. The connecting-bar G is straight, and extends across the machine in front of the connecting-rod d, nearly parallel with the latter, and serves, in addition to its usual function, the further purpose of protecting the connecting-rod against stones, grain, grass, or other substances which may lie in the path of the machine g represents a spherical head or knuckle formed at the end of the connecting-bar G and seated in a spherical socket in the front portion of the main frame A. This socket is composed ofa hemispherical socket, g', formed in the front side of the front portion, F, and a hemispherical socket, h, formed in a hemispherical cap, H, which latter covers the front half of the spherical knuckle g.

I represents a horizontal fastening bolt, which secures the cap h to the frame portion F, and passes through an opening, i, in the knuckle g. This opening is made flaring from the center of the knuckle to both ends, as represented in Figs. 4. and 5, so that the connecting-bar G is capable of a limited rocking motion in the spherical socket and about its longitudinal axis, while at the same time it can be raised and lowered by swinging it on thefastening-bolt I as a fulcrum. This construction of the knuckle and socket forms a very durable means of adjustably attaching the connecting bar to the main frame, as the strains are substantially received by the fastening-bolt, and the cast portions of the socket are to a large extent thereby relieved from said strains.

ICO

J .represents a diagonal thrust-bar, which is pivoted at its rear rend to the main frame Y A at j, preferably in line with the axis ofthe j', and k is a removable collar, which is ap- .plied to the connecting-bar G, on the inner side'of thebearing j', thereby confining the latter between these two collars.

K represents'an arm forming an upward continuation of the collar 7c.

L represents a hand-lever, pivoted at Z to a notched segment, Z, which is secured to vthe main frame A. The short arm Z2 of this lever is connected by a rod, Z3, with the arm K, so that by moving the lever forwardly or backwardly the connecting-bar G is turned in its bearings and the front edge of the cutter mechanism depressed or raised, as may be desired. rlhe hand-lever L is provided with a suitable spring-catch, m, which engages with the notched segment Z, and whereby the lever is locked in any desired position. The notched segment Z may be mounted on the thrust-bar J, and the hand-lever L may be secured directly to the connecting-bar G, as represented in Fig. 7.

N represents a hand-lever, which is pivoted at n to the tongue B; and n is a notched segment secured to the tongue and adapted to receive a springcatch, n2, attached to the lever N.

0 represents the short arm of the lever N, and P represents a spring whereby the arm o is connected with the front end of the thrustbar J. Thespring P is preferably constructed in the form of a coiled spring seated between two disks, p p'. The lower disk, p,is attached to the arm o by a bail p2, which is secured to the disk and extends upwardly through the spring andthe upper disk, p. The latter is connected with the thrust-bar J by a rod, 103, secured with its upper end to the disk p,

The por-l and extending downwardly through the lower The hand-lever N is so adjusted that the springP supports the weight of the thrustbar J and connecting parts, thereby relieving the shoe E from this weight, preventing the shoe from dragging on the ground under an excessive weight, and rendering the movements of the machineeasy.

I claim as my invention- 1. rIhe combination, with the main frame,

of a straight connecting-bar pivoted .to the front end of the main frame so as to be capable of a vertical and rolling movement, a

thrust-bar pivoted at one end to the main frame and provided at its opposite end with a bearing in which the free end of the connecting-bar is supported and allowed to rotate, a shoe hinged to the free end of the connecting-bar in advance of the cutter-bar, and a hand-lever for imparting a rotary adjustyment to the connecting-bar, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the main frame and the pitrnan for operating the cutter, of a the pitman and attached to the frontend of the main frame by a ball-and-socket joint, a thrust-bar pivoted at one end to the main frame and provided at its opposite end with a bearing in which the free end of the connect-ing-bar is supported so as to be capable of turning therein, mechanism whereby a rolling adjustment is imparted to the connectstraight connecting-bar arranged in frontof ing-bar, and a shoe hinged to the connectingbar in advance of the cutter-bar, substantially as set forth. y

3. The combination, with the main frame and tongue, of a connecting-bar and thrustbar pivoted to the main frame and connected at their opposite ends, a shoe pivoted to the connecting-bar, a hand-lever mountedvon the tongue, and a spring connecting the handlever with the thrust-bar, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 27th day of March, 1884.

CHRISTOPHER c. BRADLEY. 

